Chapter 112 - 93: Interlude

Chapter 112: Chapter 93: Interlude

Without realizing it, Xu Mo had wandered into a bustling night market. This was a spontaneously formed marketplace, a bit smaller in scale than the one at Base Six, but the goods for sale were vastly different.

The market at Base Six was filled with weapons, ammunition, basic survival supplies, and mutated materials, teeming with a wild, urgent air of survival. Here, however, the goods on the stalls were a dazzling, motley collection: various styles of old-world clothing, shoes, and hats; snacks in all kinds of packaging; sparkling, cheap accessories; and even second-hand furniture, small appliances, books, toys, and more. Many residents strolled about leisurely, and the sounds of haggling rose and fell, filling the air with the bustle of everyday life.

This was a clear indication that in the Inner City, at least for some, survival was no longer the sole focus. They were beginning to pursue higher-level needs and had grown accustomed to this relatively stable order.

Xu Mo ambled along with the crowd, his gaze sweeping over one stall after another. Suddenly, he stopped in front of a stall selling all sorts of miscellaneous old goods. Laid out on the stall were numerous old books, ornaments, and crafts. Among them was a small basket containing dozens of assorted stones—some were pebbles, while others were a few raw jade stones or scraps of various colors.

A thought struck Xu Mo. ’It’s been some time since I broke through to the Cowhide Realm of the Thirteen Grand Protectors’ Cross Training. I’ve been cultivating daily without fail, my qi and blood growing more abundant by the day, and the toughness of my skin and membranes has been slowly increasing. I haven’t run into any so-called bottlenecks. But it feels more like a slow, grinding accumulation. According to the description of the Cultivation Technique, breaking through to the next stage, the Iron Bone Realm, requires a much deeper level of tempering. That’s no easy feat, and who knows how much time it will take.’

In many of the novels Xu Mo had read in his past life, jade was said to contain pure "Spiritual Qi" or "energy" that could aid in cultivation. Although he didn’t know if that held true in this world, since he’d stumbled upon some and it wasn’t expensive, there was no harm in buying a few pieces to try.

Crouching down, Xu Mo began to rummage through the small basket. Most of the stones were unremarkable, but relying on his sense of touch, he selected two pieces of green jade scrap. They were about the size of egg yolks and felt relatively fine and smooth.

"Boss, how much for these two?" Xu Mo asked, holding up the jade pieces.

The stall owner, a wiry middle-aged man, squinted as he sized up Xu Mo, then glanced at the jade in his hand. He held up five fingers. "Young man, you’ve got a good eye! That’s top-grade Nephrite Jade, worth a fortune before the apocalypse. Seeing as you’re a sincere buyer, I’ll give it to you for fifty Contribution Points a piece. You can take both for a hundred."

Xu Mo almost laughed in exasperation. The owner was asking for an astronomical price. The quality of these two jade pieces was average at best, and they were obviously scraps left over from machine cutting, holding no artistic value. In this post-apocalyptic world, they were little more than decorations.

"Boss, you’re not being reasonable." Xu Mo shook his head, placing the jade pieces back in the basket. "Five Contribution Points for both."

"Whoa! Young man, you drive a hard bargain! This is jade we’re talking about!" the owner exclaimed, looking physically pained. "Forty! Take them both for forty Contribution Points!"

"Eight."

"Thirty! Thirty is the lowest I can go."

"Ten. Take it or leave it." Xu Mo made a move to walk away.

"Wait, wait, wait! Fifteen! Fifteen Contribution Points! And I’ll throw in an extra one for free, you can pick any you like," the owner said, quickly grabbing Xu Mo and pointing to the other stones in the basket.

Xu Mo thought for a moment. Fifteen Contribution Points was within an acceptable range. He picked up the two jade pieces again, then casually grabbed a fist-sized, unremarkable stone from the bottom of the basket. It was mottled black and red with a rough surface. "This one will do."

"Done! It’s a deal!" the owner agreed readily, as if afraid Xu Mo would change his mind.

After completing the transaction, Xu Mo stuffed the three stones into his jacket pocket and resumed his stroll. He hadn’t gone far when a shrewd-looking man in a gray jacket sidled up to him and said in a low voice, "Brother, just bought some stones? You’ve got a good eye. I’ve got something much better over here. Interested in taking a look?"

Xu Mo raised an eyebrow and looked at the man. The man’s eyes darted about, filled with a kind of street-smart cunning. "What kind of ’better stuff’?"

"Heh heh, I guarantee it’ll be an eye-opener. Too many eyes and ears around here, not the place to talk. How about you follow me?" The gray-jacketed man made an inviting gesture.

Xu Mo narrowed his eyes. He wanted to see what this man was up to, so he nodded. "Lead the way."

The smile on the gray-jacketed man’s face widened. He led Xu Mo off the bustling main street and into a side alley. As they walked, he struck up a seemingly casual conversation. "You’re new to the Inner City, aren’t you, brother?"

"Oh? How did you know?" Xu Mo was genuinely curious.

"Your eyes." The gray-jacketed man chuckled. "People who’ve been in the Inner City for a long time either have numb eyes, shrewd eyes, or eyes full of superiority. But you... you still have a hint of scrutiny in your gaze, curiosity, and even... hmm, how should I put it... a certain air that you don’t take this ’cushy nest’ of an Inner City all that seriously. One look tells me you’re a capable person who’s just fought their way in from the outside. I’ve been knocking around this area for many years; I’m at least that perceptive."

Xu Mo remained noncommittal.

The two of them twisted and turned through the maze-like alleys, eventually arriving at the end of a secluded dead-end alley where they faced an inconspicuous wooden door. The gray-jacketed man knocked on it with a distinct rhythm, and the door opened from the inside.

"Please, come in. All the good stuff is inside." The man in the gray jacket stepped aside.

Xu Mo stepped into the courtyard. It was small and cluttered. The moment he set foot inside, the wooden door slammed shut behind him with a BANG. Immediately after, seven or eight men swarmed out from the corners of the yard and the shadows of the house, surrounding him. They were armed with steel pipes, machetes, and other weapons. One of them was even holding an old-fashioned double-barreled shotgun, its muzzle aimed right at Xu Mo.